What Is Your Favorite Guitar Cable?

[glpg80]

i have an 18 foot dimarzio that i use. other than that i have some cheapo generics with switchcraft connectors.
and some shorter live wire cables for connecting effects and stuff. which also have a lifetime warranty.
they all sound fine and work fine.
i just have to laugh when people say "this or that cable makes such a HUUUGE difference in my tone!!/!?!" lol
like the copper one company uses is somehow different from the copper another company uses lol.
as long as a cable has good shielding, and good soldering on the connectors, it's going to be a decent cable that will probably sound about the same as any other cable.

the length of the cable, the diameter of the copper core, sheilding techniques, the capacitance of the cable (which adjusts the -3dB roll off point also called the F point) and many many many other variables play a part in transfering your AC output from your guitar, into your amplifier.

whos laughing now?

its no different than different tubes. they all have 8 or 9 pins and all work in amplifiers - so that means its stupid to try different models out correct?

or how about speakers. they all perform the same function of transfering electrical energy into mechanical energy. they cant sound any different since they all do the same job, correct?

your ignorance to understand why a cable sounds different does not constitute stupidity to others that do understand all aspects and variables to tone.

 

[9ball]

the length of the cable, the diameter of the copper core, sheilding techniques, the capacitance of the cable (which adjusts the -3dB roll off point also called the F point) and many many many other variables play a part in transfering your AC output from your guitar, into your amplifier.

whos laughing now?

its no different than different tubes. they all have 8 or 9 pins and all work in amplifiers - so that means its stupid to try different models out correct?

or how about speakers. they all perform the same function of transfering electrical energy into mechanical energy. they cant sound any different since they all do the same job, correct?

your ignorance to understand why a cable sounds different does not constitute stupidity to others that do understand all aspects and variables to tone.

LOL i dunno - who's laughing? i am lol.
yeah we know - length makes a little bit of difference - that's why most guitar cables are around 20 feet.
diameter - again - most guitar cable are what? 18 or 20 guage? most... if not ALL LOL
and yeah like i said - it needs to have some decent shielding, like most cables do... "capacitance" huh? lol - can you even explain to me what that means pertaining to a guitar cable? lol
maybe you're thinking of the "total resistance"? or "impedance"? relating to signal degradation causing a little bit of loss in treble or low end maybe or something? again something most decent cables are going to be the same in because no matter what the name on the cable is, a 20 foot long length of 20 AWG braided copper is going to have the exact same resistance as any other 20 foot long length of braided copper
lol

now- let's hear about all the other "many many many other variables" that you say make a big difference from cable to cable that only your dog can differentiate between lol

it is very different than tubes. tubes make a difference a human being can actually HEAR lol

 

[primeholy]

From guitar to amp or pedalboard this.

 

[GtrWiz]

the length of the cable, the diameter of the copper core, sheilding techniques, the capacitance of the cable (which adjusts the -3dB roll off point also called the F point) and many many many other variables play a part in transfering your AC output from your guitar, into your amplifier.

whos laughing now?

its no different than different tubes. they all have 8 or 9 pins and all work in amplifiers - so that means its stupid to try different models out correct?

or how about speakers. they all perform the same function of transfering electrical energy into mechanical energy. they cant sound any different since they all do the same job, correct?

your ignorance to understand why a cable sounds different does not constitute stupidity to others that do understand all aspects and variables to tone.

LOL i dunno - who's laughing? i am lol.
yeah we know - length makes a little bit of difference - that's why most guitar cables are around 20 feet.
diameter - again - most guitar cable are what? 18 or 20 guage? most... if not ALL LOL
and yeah like i said - it needs to have some decent shielding, like most cables do... "capacitance" huh? lol - can you even explain to me what that means pertaining to a guitar cable? lol
maybe you're thinking of the "total resistance"? or "impedance"? relating to signal degradation causing a little bit of loss in treble or low end maybe or something? again something most decent cables are going to be the same in because no matter what the name on the cable is, a 20 foot long length of 20 AWG braided copper is going to have the exact same resistance as any other 20 foot long length of braided copper
lol

now- let's hear about all the other "many many many other variables" that you say make a big difference from cable to cable that only your dog can differentiate between lol

it is very different than tubes. tubes make a difference a human being can actually HEAR lol

 

[TeleBlaster]

i have an 18 foot dimarzio that i use. other than that i have some cheapo generics with switchcraft connectors.
and some shorter live wire cables for connecting effects and stuff. which also have a lifetime warranty.
they all sound fine and work fine.
i just have to laugh when people say "this or that cable makes such a HUUUGE difference in my tone!!/!?!" lol
like the copper one company uses is somehow different from the copper another company uses lol.
as long as a cable has good shielding, and good soldering on the connectors, it's going to be a decent cable that will probably sound about the same as any other cable.

ummmm.... Capacitance makes a huge difference, truly.
Your DiMarzio cable has relatively low capacitance (when compared to others) and is a decent mid to low priced cable.
I can hear tremendous difference between the true cheapos up to about the $100.00 dollar mark for a 10' cable, but at the real top price end I honestly hear very little difference. Maybe someone else can hear a difference that is worth extra coin, I'm not denying that such an improvement in tone exists.
My ears are only calibrated up to about the $75-$100 mark.

If you can't hear the difference between Horizon cable, a lamp cord, and your DiMarzio cable, then be very happy that you will spend less on cables than most everyone else. But ridiculing someone that can hear the difference, and has a preference for the tone of a certain cable, and even denying that said tone differences exist, well... that's a little uneducated I guess.

How 'bout speaker cables? They're all copper and about the same gauge....

 

[9ball]

If you can't hear the difference between Horizon cable, a lamp cord, and your DiMarzio cable, then be very happy that you will spend less on cables than most everyone else. But ridiculing someone that can hear the difference, and has a preference for the tone of a certain cable, and even denying that said tone differences exist, well... that's a little uneducated I guess.

How 'bout speaker cables? They're all copper and about the same gauge....

i'm not ridiculing anyone. i just presented a different opinion. i'm not the one getting my panties all bunched up in my ass coming back with insults calling the other guy a moron or an idiot just because he doesn't agree with me lol.

i never said anything about cables as flimsy as a "lamp cord" either. go back and read what i typed again.
i said any "decent cable" - such as an 18 foot dimarzio cable with decent shielding and good connectors - connectors are the jacks that plug into the guitar, and the amp - like switchcraft connectors that most good cables use at least - is going to sound just as good as any other cable out there. i don't believe in all this hype that's come about lately about how all these cables all make such a big difference in sound.
in my opinion - anyone who pays any more than 20 or 30 bucks for a 20 foot cable is a sap lol.
boy i just don't know what the hell people did back in the 70's and 80's without all of these "high end cables" we have today lol

 

[TeleBlaster]

Geeez... Try to explain something nicely, and that's what I get..

 

[some dude]

i said any "decent cable" - such as an 18 foot dimarzio cable with decent shielding and good connectors - connectors are the jacks that plug into the guitar, and the amp - like switchcraft connectors that most good cables use at least - is going to sound just as good as any other cable out there. i don't believe in all this hype that's come about lately about how all these cables all make such a big difference in sound.
in my opinion - anyone who pays any more than 20 or 30 bucks for a 20 foot cable is a sap lol.

Yeah, but your opinion is worth just as much as mine, which is jack squat for the most part considering we're giving it away on a public forum.

Anyway, it's not that hard to hear the difference between two different cables, even of the same length and with the same connectors. It's more than just simple strands of copper these days. The designs have gotten more complex, even if all you see is a black rubber casing.

Myself, I use Planet Waves as I feel they're good tone/value. That said, I don't feel the need to act like a dickhead to anyone who chooses to spend more money on something they feel is good value. It's their money... what do I care?

boy i just don't know what the hell people did back in the 70's and 80's without all of these "high end cables" we have today lol

So... what's your point? That we should all go back to wearing polyester underwear and using razor blades that cut up your face? Fuck that.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Planet Waves and GFS.

 

[9ball]

Geeez... Try to explain something nicely, and that's what I get..

what?
i didn't mean to be insulting about it. just discussing.
don't even try to make me feel bad lol

 

[Badronald]

George L. All I use.

 

[9ball]

Anyway, it's not that hard to hear the difference between two different cables, even of the same length and with the same connectors. It's more than just simple strands of copper these days. The designs have gotten more complex, even if all you see is a black rubber casing.

Myself, I use Planet Waves as I feel they're good tone/value. That said, I don't feel the need to act like a dickhead to anyone who chooses to spend more money on something they feel is good value. It's their money... what do I care?

boy i just don't know what the hell people did back in the 70's and 80's without all of these "high end cables" we have today lol

So... what's your point? That we should all go back to wearing polyester underwear and using razor blades that cut up your face? Fuck that.

it's really not that much more than just simple strands of copper IMO. a guitar cable is just an electrical conductor, and it's just not anything new. it's not rocket science man lol.
someone told me once "they have different variations of the quality of the copper strands" lol.
copper is an element. you can't add anything to copper in any sizeable quantity and have it stay copper. it will then be something else other than copper - an alloy. like brass. copper and zinc.
it's just that you need at least a half decent cable like a dimarzio that has decent soldering connections, shielding, and good connectors.
and i'm not trying to "act like a dickhead", if that's how you're perceiving it, then i dunno. maybe don't be so sensitive.

and finally - my "point" about guitar cables from he 70's/80's is that some of the best recorded tones in electric guitar history are still considered by many to come from the 70's and 80's, and they didn't have hundred dollar cables with "gold connectors" back then, did they? lol

but yeah - you're right - it really doesn't matter, and really who gives a shit, and people can buy whatever they want, but like take guitar world magazine for instance - they ran a big article about all the differences in all these different cables a year or so ago, and it was mostly the most expensive ones that they claimed "sounded the best" and you know what? a lot of kids read that magazine and are naive enough to believe everything they read in GW and probably don't have a whole lot of money to spend, and GW is in the business of advertising and sales you know?

i mean shit the connectors on monster cables aren't even really gold - they're just plated lol.

 

[Spaceboy]

Geeez... Try to explain something nicely, and that's what I get..

what?
i didn't mean to be insulting about it. just discussing.
don't even try to make me feel bad lol

Your first few posts are blatantly insulting. You may want to rethink your debate tactics.

 

[some dude]

it's really not that much more than just simple strands of copper IMO.

If that's what you want to believe then I'll just leave it at that.

Have a nice day!

 

[narad]

Am I the only one that uses Death Valley cables? I haven't had a ton of experience with the usual suspects mentioned here - would love to know what people who have tried everything think of them. They do the job for me.
http://www.deathvalleycablecompany.com/

 

[9ball]

Geeez... Try to explain something nicely, and that's what I get..

what?
i didn't mean to be insulting about it. just discussing.
don't even try to make me feel bad lol

Your first few posts are blatantly insulting. You may want to rethink your debate tactics.

well i wasn't trying to be insulting.
just mannishly debating.
there's no need to take anything here personally this is just, after all, an internet discussion forum. for guitar gear.
i would think if one tends to take things said over an internet discussion forum personally, then harmony central is where they belong.
i thought that was just a given, understood formality lol.
again - i'm sorry teleblaster - if you thought that i aimed that message at you, personally, that was not my intention.

 

[9ball]

it's really not that much more than just simple strands of copper IMO.

If that's what you want to believe then I'll just leave it at that.

Have a nice day!

that is indeed - what i want to believe. lol

 

[diezelduder]

i hate to get involved in the above "fight" but really there is a large difference in tone between cheaper cables and more high end ones, whether they are expensive or not

i don't know if it's more of a gimmick but the copper tip on the G&H plugs really seem to add something, especially when couple with the cables i use, capacity was explained to me once very well by norton cable duder, but hell if i remember, but the point is it's very important and determines what frequencies are allowed through etcetc, the etcetc part being what i can't remember DERP!, but it's also more than just copper that makes a good cable, or 100% shielding, sometimes the blend of copper the amount of strands what's blended with the copper and overall design etc, plus the shielding is what matters, and a host of other things, that i don't know because i'm not an engineer,

anyway, to say that they'll all the same because the tone difference is negligible makes you sound ignorant and you're just plain wrong about the subject, i don't know much but i know i hear a difference between a dimarzio and an analysis plus cable, because i can hear highs and lows more fully than before, it's strange really when you try out even different high end cables and different parts of the frequency are enhanced etc, it's just like speakers or anything else you change in your signal path,

but imho cables can be the most important, but i could definitely be wrong, but if you have a shit cable and a great amp, the amp will sound like shit no matter how great cause of the cable

anyway i've rambled on my ambien again which is something i promised myself i wouldn't do anymore

the sommer cables i use now, wow what a difference, i hear all these highs and their harmonics that i don't think i heard before, it's amazing, so much difference that the amp had to be completely re-eqed, oops!

regards and luck

 

[Doubleneck]

I just bought a Evidence Siren II speaker cable to replace a Monster 500 series speaker cable and it's like a blanket was was taken off my cab.
Huge improvement!

 

[droptrd]

the length of the cable, the diameter of the copper core, sheilding techniques, the capacitance of the cable (which adjusts the -3dB roll off point also called the F point) and many many many other variables play a part in transfering your AC output from your guitar, into your amplifier.

whos laughing now?

its no different than different tubes. they all have 8 or 9 pins and all work in amplifiers - so that means its stupid to try different models out correct?

or how about speakers. they all perform the same function of transfering electrical energy into mechanical energy. they cant sound any different since they all do the same job, correct?

your ignorance to understand why a cable sounds different does not constitute stupidity to others that do understand all aspects and variables to tone.

LOL i dunno - who's laughing? i am lol.
yeah we know - length makes a little bit of difference - that's why most guitar cables are around 20 feet.
diameter - again - most guitar cable are what? 18 or 20 guage? most... if not ALL LOL
and yeah like i said - it needs to have some decent shielding, like most cables do... "capacitance" huh? lol - can you even explain to me what that means pertaining to a guitar cable? lol
maybe you're thinking of the "total resistance"? or "impedance"? relating to signal degradation causing a little bit of loss in treble or low end maybe or something? again something most decent cables are going to be the same in because no matter what the name on the cable is, a 20 foot long length of 20 AWG braided copper is going to have the exact same resistance as any other 20 foot long length of braided copper
lol

now- let's hear about all the other "many many many other variables" that you say make a big difference from cable to cable that only your dog can differentiate between lol

it is very different than tubes. tubes make a difference a human being can actually HEAR lol

Try metering your cheapos and then meter your dimarzio. There will be a difference. The cheapos usually have a slight muffled high end.